Anyone regret not travelling when they were younger or had the Chance ?

[kylie127]

Debating wether to do more travelling or do up my newly bought first home

I regret not interrailling as a student. I plan to do once the youngest kid finishes college and goes to university. I'll probably only be able to take 3 weeks though. So might need to go twice!

No. Don't regret anything, because I'm not dead yet so still time to do anything I haven't done. More money now too, so more options. That said I'm fit well and full of energy and there's nothing I can't do now that I could have done 30 years ago. Not everyone is so lucky health wise, so there's something to be said for not putting off things you really want to do.

I very much regret not travelling.

If you mean abroard then it's a no. It wasn't even something I thought about doing. Not even on my life radar. I would have like to travel around the UK in a camper van so I regret not learning too drive (I did lessons but I would never have been able to afford a car so I gave up). The irony is having a car could have opened up more employment options - leading to better pay so more money.
If anything I regret not have a child earlier (which means I could have possibly have more than one). This is a much stronger regret.
Don't particularly have a desire to travel now either.

Travelled around for nearly five years. So many adventures, absolute time of my life but I couldn't do it now. Some things you have to do when you're young

If you want to travel do it, don’t delay.
Even better go live somewhere else for a few years.
Rent out your house, do it up when you want to come home.

Dh and I spent a good 6 years traveling extensively. Now that we have dc I don't feel as if I missed out on anything. No desire to do a holiday without dc either.

Travel!! I did until 28 lived across the globe and was so ready to settle and live back in the UK.

I’ve traveled a lot, had plans to live abroad which went on hold due to a death in the family & that time has now passed …

Either are good options: though with inflation you might do better to crack on with your house renovation while you have the funds

I travelled lots when I was younger including backpacking, time of my life!! I don’t know anyone who would regret it. Life is short, see the world, the house can wait.

Can you get an into company transfer to allow you to see a bit of the world that you fancy whilst working I’ve done that several times I’ve been to Australia and Canada had a relocation package is covered by the company and whilst it isn’t the same as travelling you typically tack on a months holiday before you leave to do all the touristy stuff.

I didn't and really wish I had. Fortunately unfortunately due to a cancer diagnosis and a critical illness payout DH and I are going to Oz for month long, once in a lifetime trip wish it was longer.

It was always a dream as a kid to go Down Under, but life and relationships got in the way. Luckily I'm fine now but it's really made me reassess life, money, and I've realised that life is too bloody short to not seize the moment.

Didn't travel and no regrets. I hate camping and get travel sick!

do it while you can. for some odd reason I totally lost my nerve after mid thirties, so very glad I got loads done when younger. I also got more antisocial so wouldn't have been able to embrace half the adventures I did when younger

Never wanted to do travelling, a week away on holiday is enough for me, I like being home. No regrets. If you have the urge though, do it.

Yes. But also I like the idea of it more than actually doing it.
I travelled a fair amount and lived in 4 different countries
I always wish I’d stayed longer, done more whilst I was there, wish I could go back or go see other places I didn’t make it to.
But also actually when I look at photographs from that period of time I was so miserable! It’s hard work to travel, sometimes it’s hard to keep friendships or you miss family occasions, to not keep material things, to be constantly feeling a bit out of place and struggling with the language and feeling a bit lonely if you’re travelling alone.
I’m glad I did it, but I think it’s hard to not compare your actual experience with the Instagram travel photos where everyone’s having a great time constantly.

You don't have to be 18-21 to travel, so go!

I know a couple of friends young adults who went travelling after university - had a whale of a time.

DP and I went away for 8 weeks about 15 years ago and are going again this autumn - should have gone in 2020 but got cancelled for some reason!

I travelled a huge amount when I was younger (nearly 70 countries).
I'm glad I did, since now I don't particularly want long-haul flights/ jet-lag/ keeping safe while traveling alone/ being responsible for having somewhere booked to sleep each night.
I'd be happy not to leave Europe again. But I've toddlers, so I'm sure we'll have a few adventures when they're a bit older.

No, I dont think so.
(Now) DH and I were planning an expensive trip when we were still renting, but decided it would be crazy to spend the money and not be homeowners. So we waited and got on the property ladder. That was 2010 and MY WORD am I happy that we made that decision.
I'm actually not that bothered about travel (i havent missed foreign holidays at all through covid) and think I get more pleasure from having a nice home.

I don't think that travel, the freedom, as it was years ago, will be quite the same post covid, or more so post our green views since Greta. Makes me sad that my ds's won't experience the travel I did, the freedom of visiting different countries, having a gap year pre Uni, is not so easy now.

Yes!! I'll be encouraging mine to travel when they can- free of family and work ties etc

I have travelled a lot in the last 10 years but I wish I had done more when I was much younger.

But - I didn't have a bob 99% of the time when I was younger and I didn't want to run up debt. So it didn't happen.

I didn't travel whilst young and don't regret it all. I have zero interest in seeing far away places but I know I'm unusual in this. If it interests you and you can afford it, do it.

I never did a 'big travel' ie one long time away but did do a lot of smaller trips during my 20s and early 30s, so feel I've seen a lot. Intend to do more, if finances allowed I'd enjoy trips of 1 month to far flung places but not longer in early retirement.

No regrets as I did travel for 3 years from 18 -21. That was my university. It stood me in good stead to have a successful life . Now the kids are nearly all grown up, we have started to travel without them again ....but no backpacks this time ...a bit of luxury in my 50s